U.S. sets duties on imported washers

Tuesday

Jul 31, 2012 at 12:01 AMJul 31, 2012 at 11:31 AM

The U.S. Commerce Department set preliminary anti-dumping duties on about

The U.S. Commerce Department set preliminary anti-dumping duties on about $1 billion worth of residential washing machines from Mexico and South Korea yesterday in a case brought by the American manufacturer Whirlpool.

The department estimated that Mexican manufacturers were selling the washers in the United States at prices 33.30 percent to 72.41 percent below fair value. It said South Korean producers were undercutting prices by 9.62 percent to 82.41 percent.

In an odd twist, one of the two Mexican manufacturers hit with the 72.41 percent preliminary duty was Whirlpool itself.

Whirlpool said it has stopped shipping washers from Mexico for sale in the United States and therefore would not face duties.

The company said it has made significant investments in its Clyde, Ohio, plant and expects that nearly 100 percent of the washers its sells in the United States will be American-made by 2013.

“Whirlpool is committed to building products in the regions where they are sold and investing in our U.S. manufacturing presence,” company spokeswoman Kristine Vernier said. “Our investments will continue as long as we can compete on a level playing field, with all of our foreign competitors playing by the established rules.”

Washers made by Electrolux and Samsung in Mexico were hit with preliminary anti-dumping duties of 33.30 percent and 72.41 percent, respectively.

Washers made by Daewoo, LG Electronics and Samsung in South Korea received preliminary anti-dumping duties of 82.41?percent, 12.15 percent, and 9.62 percent, respectively.

Importers have to post bonds or cash deposits based on the preliminary rates.